Spinner toy



March 19, 1963 G. w. MOSHER SPINNER TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4,1960 INVENTOR.

GEORGE W. MOSHE/P BY ATTORNEY March 19, 1963 G. w. MOSHER 3,081,578

SPINNER TOY Filed 001;. 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE W.MOSHE/i BY V .7

' ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,631,578 SPINNER TOY George W. Masher,4412 W. Fork Road, Cincinnati 39, Ohio Filed Oct. 4, 1960, Ser. No.60,329 '1 Claim. (Cl. 4672) This invention relates to a rotatable toy,and more particularly to a spinner simulating a yo-yo, having meansassociated therewith for producing pleasing sound effects and whereinthe device is constructed in such a manner as to provide a pronouncedgyroscopic effect.

An object of the invention is to provide a spinner type toy whichcomprises a pair of laterally spaced hollow annular disks which areinterconnected for unitary rotation about an axial shaft which extendsthrough said disks and wherein the opposite ends of said axial shaftterminate in axial end element or abutment means one or both of whichmay be held by the user of the device when operating the spinner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spinning toy whichincludes a finger-engageable bracket or bearing member which may beassociated with an end element of the axial spindle of the toy formounting said toy during operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spinning toyhaving the hereinabove described characteristics which may beinexpensively manufactured and which will combine certain features of ayo-yo and gyroscope.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein andas disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a spinning toy embodying theteachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a finger bracket which comprises a detail ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the fingerbracket of FIG. 4 may be associated with the ball of the thumbof a userof the device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the devicemay be held when imparting rotary motion thereto.

'FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are views illustrating various manners in whch thespinning device may be associated with the thumb of a user utilizing thefinger bracket of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the device of FIG. 2 when used as ayo-yo.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the numerals 10denote a pair of similar hollow disks fabricated from inner and outerpanels 12 and 1 4 whose peripheral edges 16 are suitably secured inabutting relationship. Each of disks It} is suitably interconnected inlaterally spaced relationship for unitary rotation about an axialspindle or shaft 18 which, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, terminates inends 20* which project outwardly beyond faces 22 of outer panels 12 ofthe disks 1i Disks 10 may be secured to and carried by a hollow sleeve30 and spaced apart by a shoulder 32 whereby hollow sleeve 30 isrotatably journaled relative to shaft 18.

The numerals 4!) denote generally a pair of axial end elements orabutment members each of which is secured to and carried by an oppositeend 20 of shaft 18. End elements 46 are provided with an annular groove42 intermediate an inner, axial face '44 normal to the axis of shaft 18and an outer abutment element 46. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention a resilient member 48 is secured to and carried by the outerface of abutment 46.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that disks 10 are thus mounted forconcurrent and unitary rotation about axial shaft 18.

The numeral 50 denotes a mass-increasing member which may comprise aloop of heavy wire, or the like, wherein said mass-increasing member islocated adjacent the maximum radius of the disks for thereb'y providingsufficient mass for enhancing the gyroscopic characteristics of saiddisks when rotating about shaft 18.

With particular reference now to FIG. 4, the numeral 69 denotesgenerally a finger bracket fabricated from sheet metal whereby toprovide a body portion 62 from which a pair of outwardly divergent wings64 project. The forward end of body portion 62 comprises a bearing plate'66 having an open-ended slot '68 provided therein, wherein said slot isdefined by a pair of side edges 67 and 69 interconnected at their innerends as at 65. The lateral spacing between edges 67 and 69 is of such adimension as to receive annular slot 42. of ends 40 of the spinningdevice of FIGS. 1-3.

-As best illustrated in FIG. 5, finger bracket 60 may be associated withthe thumb of a user of the device by disposing portion 66 over and inparallelism with the ball of thumb 82. The bracket may be securelythough releasably anchored to the end of a thumb by bending side arms 64away from the plane of portion 66 around the end of the thumb, as shown.

Rapid rotary motion may be imparted to the disks by means of a cord 0wrapped about spacer 32 in opening 11 between disks 10.

As clearly illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the spinner may beheld by interposing the axial end elements 40 between thumb 82 andforefinger 86 for fixedly securing the spindle 18 in order that thedisks 10 may be rotated incident to rapid pulling of cord 90 in thedirection of headed arrow 92.

It should be understood that when an end element 40 has been associatedwith the finger bracket 60, the spindle 18 will be securely thoughreleasably anchored to bearing plate '66 thereof and project at rightangles therefrom. The spinning disks may be manipulated while suspendedfrom the finger bracket on the thumb as in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 for therebyimparting an unusual play-effect to the device.

If it is desired to utilize the device as a yo-yo, a closed loop isprovided in the end 'of cord 90 for precluding separation of the cordfrom central spacer element 32 for enabling the device to be used as ayo-yo as in FIG. 10.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, openings denoted by thenumerals 93, and 97 may be provided in the outer panel 12 of the disks,and preferably four such openings are provided in the outer panels ofone of said disks and a greater or lesser number of openings in theouter panel 12 of the other of said disks, whereby each of the disks,when rotated, will produce a different humming or whistling effect. Thisfeature provides an interesting and novel effect to the toy in that thetones emitted from the disks when spinning at a high rate of speed willsuddenly change as the momentum of the disk decreases.

The numerals 100 denote annular bands of resilient material disposedaround the outer maximum periphery of each of the disks for providing acushioning effect to the disks.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications may bemade in the structural details of the device, within the scope of theappended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A spinner assembly comprising in combination, an

elongate spindle, axial end elements fixed relative to opposite ends ofthe spindle wherein at least one of said end elements includes an axialgroove, a sleeve rotatably journaled on said spindle between said endelements, a pair of laterally spaced disks secured to and carried bysaid sleeve for rotation relative to said spindle and end elements, eachof said disks including an annular weighted member adjacent its outerperiphery for increasing the mass thereof, and a finger bracketincluding a bearing plate and finger engaging means integral therewith,said bearing plate having an open-ended slot therein to receive thegroove of said end element for securely though releasably anchoring saidspindle at one end to and supporting it to extend at right angles fromsaid bearing plate and said finger engaging means including a pair offlat wing extensions of the bearing plate adapted to be fitted on andaround a finger for the support of the 5 assembly by the finger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,561,601 Szonnell July 24, 1951 10 2,645,881 Frangos July 21, 1953FOREIGN PATENTS 862,866 Germany Jan. 12, 1953

